pdf-ebookys Page 298
Page 298
Chapter 684 Critical Moment
Chapter 684 Critical Moment
"That's really brave. I wouldn't have had that kind of courage."
"I hope they do well; after all, they are our hope."
As they ventured deeper into the eastern border, the surrounding scenery gradually became desolate, and an ominous atmosphere began to permeate the air. Just as the four were cautiously advancing, suddenly, the ground trembled violently, and a dazzling light ripped through the sky, pointing directly to a hidden valley.
"That's the source of the energy fluctuations!" Li Wen pointed in the direction of the light, his tone a mix of tension and excitement.
"Let's go take a look." Zhao De took the lead and rode towards the valley without hesitation.
Inside the valley lay a forgotten ancient ruin, with a massive altar at its center, emitting an eerie blue light. Upon the altar, a figure in black robes chanted incantations, attempting to awaken some terrifying entity.
"Stop!" Zhao De shouted angrily, and the four of them instantly formed a formation and surrounded the altar.
The man in black robes slowly turned around, revealing a ferocious face: "Oh, it's Zhao De. I thought someone dared to disturb my ceremony. It seems I'll have to deal with you first before continuing my grand plan."
A fierce battle ensued, with both sides locked in a close and evenly matched struggle. At this crucial moment, Zhao De discovered the key to the altar—a gem radiating an evil aura, the very thing driving everything.
"We must destroy that gem!" Zhao De shouted to his companions.
After a fierce battle, Lei Hu found an opportunity. He raised his heavy hammer and struck with all his might, shattering the gem into pieces. In an instant, the black-robed man lost his source of power, screamed in agony, and turned to ashes, while the evil energy gradually dissipated.
"We did it!" Li Wen shouted excitedly.
But at that moment, a portal suddenly opened beneath the altar, emanating a warm light that seemed to connect to another world.
"It seems that there are still many secrets waiting for us to explore in this ancient ruin." Zhao De looked at the unknown portal, his eyes flashing with determination and curiosity.
"No matter what lies ahead, we will face it together." Lei Hu patted Zhao De on the shoulder, and the other two nodded in agreement. The four of them smiled at each other, filled with boundless anticipation for the future.
"Look! What's happening over there!" A passing caravan stopped in their tracks. The members pointed to the strange light rising from the direction of the valley in the distance, whispering among themselves, their faces full of surprise and curiosity.
"That's the direction Zhao De and his group are heading. Could they have encountered something serious?" a young businessman guessed, his eyes gleaming with longing for heroic tales.
"If it's them, then there's definitely no problem. Zhao De is a legend in our area." A seasoned driver took a puff of his pipe, his tone full of confidence and pride.
Outside the valley, the news spread rapidly, and the heroic deeds of Zhao De and his group, as well as the discovery of the mysterious ruins, became the hottest topic in various villages and towns.
"Mom, Uncle Zhao De defeated the bad guys, isn't he just like the hero in the story you told me?" A child tugged at his mother's clothes, his eyes full of longing for the hero.
“That’s right, honey, Uncle Zhao De and his team are real-life heroes,” the mother replied with a smile, feeling genuinely proud of them.
Meanwhile, at a secluded gathering, several figures huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
Chapter 685 Nobody knows what's behind the door
Chapter 685 Nobody knows what's behind the door
"Those guys ruined our plans. We can't let them get any further." A dark figure spoke in a grim tone, his eyes flashing with an ominous light.
“But they now have the support of the villagers, and a head-on confrontation is not a wise move,” another person objected, appearing more cautious.
"Hmph, there's always a way, as long as we find their weakness..." the shadowy figure sneered, a sinister calculation in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Zhao De and his companions stood before that mysterious portal, facing an unknown world with a mixture of excitement and caution.
“We should go in and take a look; maybe we can find more clues to fight against the dark forces.” Li Wen gripped his longsword tightly, his gaze resolute.
“I agree, but be careful, no one knows what’s behind the door,” Lei Hu warned, his eyes scanning the surroundings, remaining vigilant at all times.
Just then, a trembling voice came from among the onlookers, "Please...please take me with you, I also want to do something for the village." It was the father of the little girl from yesterday, his eyes filled with both fear and determination.
Zhao De turned to him, smiled and nodded, "Okay, let's work together. Everyone's strength is precious."
Following Zhao De's decision, more people stepped forward, expressing their willingness to go together, and the group gradually grew. With everyone's support, the four warriors led a group of villagers filled with hope and courage into that unknown world.
"No matter what we encounter, we must remember that we are fighting for our homeland and for the light." Zhao De's words echoed inside the door, inspiring everyone.
"For the light!" the crowd responded in unison, their voices soft yet filled with unwavering resolve.
The world beyond the door unfolded before them, its strange scenery and unknown creatures leaving everyone in awe. But their gazes remained unwavering, for they knew that new challenges and adventures were just beginning…
In the valley, the light gradually faded, and an ancient ruin lay quietly before everyone's eyes. Stone pillars stood tall, etched with the marks of time, as if telling tales of past glories. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, dappling this mysterious land and casting a sacred glow upon everything.
"Wow, is this...is this real? The legendary ancient kingdom is right under our feet!" A young villager stared in disbelief, his finger trembling as he pointed at the giant stone statue entwined with vines.
"Yes, it seems that countless secrets are hidden beneath the dust of history, waiting for us to uncover them." Zhao De looked around, a sharp glint in his eyes, and he had already made up his mind.
The procession moved slowly forward, each step treading on the dust of history. The surrounding scenery became increasingly strange, with the occasional fleeting shadow of an unknown beast among the exotic flowers and plants, making one's heart race.
"Everyone be careful. We're not familiar with this area, and any slight movement could be a sign of danger," Lei Hu warned in a low voice, his longbow already drawn taut, his vigilance evident.
Suddenly, a commotion arose ahead, as if something was approaching. The group quickly stopped, and everyone nervously formed a circle, protecting the women and children in the center.
"Who's there?" Li Wen shouted, his longsword in hand, the tip pointing directly in the direction of the voice.
After a rustling sound, a ragged old man shuffled out. His face was withered, but his eyes were unusually bright, as if they could see into people's hearts.
Chapter 686 Preparations are complete
Chapter 686 Preparations are complete
"You have finally arrived, the warriors of prophecy..." The old man's voice was hoarse and mysterious, and the surrounding air seemed to become heavier as a result.
The villagers looked at each other, at a loss, only Zhao De stepped forward, his tone respectful: "Who are you? How did you know we were coming?"
"I am the last guardian of this ruin, waiting for the destined one to awaken the sleeping truth." The old man slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "For a long time, I have tried every means to resist those villains who attempt to awaken the dark power, but my power is gradually fading away. Only a true warrior can stop all of this."
"Stop what?" a child couldn't help but interject, his innocent voice filled with curiosity.
"Prevent the seal from being broken, and prevent that ancient and powerful evil from once again engulfing this land." The old man's words were like a cold wind, sending chills down the spines of everyone present.
"Then what should we do?" Zhao De asked in a deep voice. He was already prepared; there was nothing he couldn't face in order to protect his homeland.
"You need to find the lost relic; it is the only key to strengthening the seal and completely stopping the awakening of darkness." The old man took out a yellowed map from his robes and slowly unfolded it. "The map will guide you, but you must face the dangers along the way yourselves."
The moment Zhao De received the map, he felt an unprecedented weight, but he also knew that this was their responsibility and mission as heroes.
"For the sake of light, for the sake of our homeland, we will not back down." Zhao De's firm words struck like a heavy hammer in everyone's heart.
The villagers' eyes hardened. Despite the unknown and perilous road ahead, their hearts were united and fearless at this moment.
"Then, let's set off! Towards the light, we will never give up!" Lei Hu brandished his longbow, his words filled with passion and encouragement.
The crowd responded with a chorus of voices, which was not only an expectation for the future, but also a firm declaration of their own beliefs.
The group set off again, venturing deeper into the fog and the unknown. Meanwhile, in the distant, hidden gathering, several sinister eyes coldly observed everything, a sneer playing on their lips, seemingly plotting an even more terrifying conspiracy.
"I've found the weakness. Let's see if this so-called hero can still laugh in the face of absolute darkness..." the shadowy figure murmured, then vanished into the night, leaving behind a trail of unsettling laughter.
Following the guidance of the faded yellow map, Zhao De and his group traversed the dense, dark forest, encountering countless unknown challenges along the way. The roars of wild beasts, the strange illusions in the dense forest, and the creatures corrupted by darkness all tested their courage and wisdom.
"Look over there!" Li Qing, the short thief in the group, pointed ahead. An ancient ruin, half-hidden under vines, emitted a faint glow. It was the location of the first sacred artifact marked on the map. "That should be the hiding place of the first sacred artifact."
The group quickened their pace, their hearts filled with both excitement and nervousness. At the entrance to the ruins, two stone statues stood silently, as if waiting for the arrival of a destined person.
"This...this stone statue doesn't seem simple," Zhou Wen, the mage in the group, said softly, his fingers lightly tracing the invisible runes in the air. "They're sealed by ancient magic; we need to find a way to unlock them."
Chapter 687 Unbelievable
Chapter 687 Unbelievable
Just as everyone was pondering, a ragged traveler suddenly appeared in their sight. He staggered a few steps, as if he had just escaped from some dangerous situation.
"Are you... also here to find the sacred relic?" the traveler asked breathlessly, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.
“Yes, do you know how to open this door?” Zhao De stepped forward, his eyes shining brightly.
The traveler smiled bitterly: "I tried to force my way in, but I almost lost my life. However, I heard a legend... Only those with pure hearts and fearless hearts can awaken the statue and open the path to the sacred object."
Upon hearing this, Zhao De made a decision. He stood before the stone statue, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then shouted out his resolve: "For the light, for my homeland, I am willing to give everything!"
Before the words were finished, a light slowly appeared in the eyes of the stone statue. Then, with a slight tremor, the stone door opened with a roar, revealing a passage shimmering with eerie light.
The passerby stared wide-eyed, muttering incredulously, "This...how is this possible?! I've tried countless times..."
The team members exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with shock and admiration. Zhou Wen patted the traveler on the shoulder: "Sometimes, strength doesn't just come from force, but from inner perseverance and purity."
During their exploration of the ruins, they not only found a sacred relic—an ancient sword radiating holy light—but also unexpectedly rescued a group of imprisoned elves. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the elves promised to become a powerful ally in their fight against the forces of darkness.
As Zhao De and his party emerged from the ruins with the sacred artifacts and their new allies, the surrounding villagers gathered around, their exclamations and cheers mingling together.
"It was Zhao De and his team! They really did it!"
"Look at that sword! It's the legendary Sword of Light! Our hope has returned!"
Just as the atmosphere was getting lively, a mysterious old man quietly appeared beside Zhao De and whispered, "Child, your journey has only just begun. Remember, the real challenge is always around the next corner. There are many more sacred objects waiting for you to discover... and that shadowy figure, his conspiracy is far more profound than you can imagine."
Zhao De gripped the Sword of Light tightly, his eyes growing ever more resolute: "No matter what awaits us ahead, as long as we hold onto the light, there is no darkness we cannot overcome."
"So, what's our next stop...?" Lei Hu asked impatiently.
The old man smiled slightly and pointed to the distant, endless mountain range: "Atop these mountains lies the secret of the second sacred artifact. But please be careful, because... that is also the place that shadowy figure covets most."
Guided by the old man, Zhao De and his group gradually disappeared from the villagers' sight, leaving behind a series of discussions about courage and legend.
"Can they really find all the sacred objects?" A young village woman asked, holding her husband's hand, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“If anyone can do it, it must be Zhao De,” her husband replied, his tone full of trust.